Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has appealed to the Lagos State Government to temper its demolition exercises with compassion, saying that being legally correct is not a substitute for being morally right.
Obi’s comments come amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the demolition of structures at the ASPAMDA Market within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, which has displaced hundreds of traders and sparked nationwide debate on the limits of government enforcement.
‘Law Must Not Inflict Undeserved Pain’
In a statement shared on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi said the law must never be wielded as an instrument of pain, especially when less destructive remedies exist.
“Those seeking to justify the current demolitions in ASPAMDA Market, Lagos, and similar situations across Nigeria must be reminded that the law is not an end in itself; it is a means to ensure order, peace, and the protection of human dignity,” Obi said.
He argued that demolitions should not be the first response to regulatory infractions, warning that such actions destroy livelihoods and deepen poverty.
“When the law becomes an instrument to inflict undeserved pain—enforced without compassion or regard for human welfare—it ceases to serve justice,” he added.
‘Demolition Not the Only Option’
The former governor of Anambra State questioned whether demolition was the only option available to the Lagos authorities, noting that opportunities for regularisation and compliance could have been pursued instead.
“Even if, for the sake of argument, some of the affected traders failed to obtain proper approvals—which is unlikely—was demolition the only option? Does it serve justice to destroy billions of naira worth of investments and livelihoods when less destructive remedies could have sufficed?” he asked.
Drawing a sharp analogy, Obi likened the state’s action to “punishing a man who stole a bicycle with death instead of imprisonment”—a punishment, he said, “grossly disproportionate to the offence.”
Lagos Govt Defends Demolitions
The Lagos State Government, however, has defended the demolitions as constitutional and procedurally fair.
In a statement issued last week, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the affected traders were given ample time to regularise their documents after the government declared a general amnesty last year—an exercise that was reportedly extended multiple times.
Omotoso dismissed Obi’s remarks as “emotional theatrics,” insisting that the government’s actions were lawful and consistent with its urban renewal agenda.
‘Governance Must Balance Law with Mercy’
Reiterating his call for empathy, Obi said governance must strike a balance between legality and humanity.
“A government should not pride itself on being legally correct if, in the process, it becomes morally wrong. Justice, to be just, must be tempered with mercy,” he wrote.
Obi described the demolitions as a test of leadership and humanity, stressing that power must always be exercised with empathy.
“It is in how we treat the vulnerable that the true character of leadership is revealed,” he concluded.
Background
The demolition of parts of ASPAMDA Market, located along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, has triggered widespread criticism from business owners and human rights advocates. Traders say they were not given adequate notice and that the demolitions have destroyed multi-million-naira investments.
The Lagos government maintains that the structures violated planning laws and obstructed development plans for the area.
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